GRAND HAVEN — The Grand Haven Coast Guard Festival is upon us, kicking off on Friday, July 25, and organizers are emphasizing convenient transportation options to ensure a smooth experience for attendees. 

Grand Haven Assistant City Manager Dana Kollewehr encouraged residents and visitors to take advantage of shuttle services and to be mindful of parking regulations.

Read More: Planning to attend Grand Haven's Coast Guard Festival? Here's the event lineup

It’s no secret that when the festival begins, the streets get congested and parking options are few and far between, she said. 

"What we have found over the years is that people are realizing the need to take some sort of shuttle," Kollewehr said.

The Harbor Transit is a great alternative to driving vehicles downtown for the festivities, she said. 

Harbor Transit will offer free shuttle services from Harbor Island starting Friday where it can accommodate a large volume of vehicles. Shuttle hours are as follows: 

• 5:30-10:30 p.m. Friday, July 25
• 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 26 
• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, July 27 
• 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday, July 28
• 4-11:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29
• 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30
• 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31
• 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1

The downtown shuttle drop-off location for Harbor Island is Third Street and Columbus Avenue.

For the main Coast Guard Saturday festivities on Aug. 2, Harbor Transit will be available from 9 a.m.-11:30 p.m. from several locations, including Ferry Elementary School, Griffin Elementary School, Trinity Reformed Church, First Christian Reformed Church (all in Grand Haven), First Baptist Church, All Shores Wesleyan Church (both in Spring Lake), and Ferrysburg City Hall. 

The downtown drop-off for this service is also Third Street and Columbus Avenue. A day pass for the Saturday park-and-ride is $2 for full-fare riders and $1 for discounted-fare riders.

Kollewehr also advised festival-goers to pay close attention to parking signage, as some streets may be affected by closures, especially on Saturday due to the parade and fireworks. 

"I wouldn’t recommend moving your vehicle once you’re parked. Try and stay put once you’re in our location. We have a very walkable and bicycle town". 

Public parking maps are available on the city's website. Additionally, the use of bicycles and bike racks can help with navigating the festival area, she said. 

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.